FantasyLion.com: All Day

by Brandon LaClair of Rookie Blitz.com, follow RookieBlitz on Twitter

We will take a look at Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas as he enters the 2010 NFL draft.  We’ll be examining his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths

• Size: At 6’3, 230 lbs, Thomas’ great size is the greatest advantage he has as he enters the league.  Because of his great size, he fearlessly goes over the middle and absorbs all contact.  In the NFL, cornerbacks typically range from 5’10- 6’2 in height, so Thomas will usually have the advantage in 1-on-1 coverage
• Catches ball at APEX: Has the capability of going up to get the football at its highest point.  With the aggressive cornerbacks and safeties that the NFL has to offer, this attribute is essential and Thomas is the master of this domain
• Blocking: With the herculean bulk and strength that Thomas possesses, his blocking skills should be great, but they are better than advertised.  He sets the tone as a run blocker and his ability to take on all comers at the college level was unmatched, and this shouldn’t change as he proceeds into the pro game

Weaknesses

• Route Running: Extremely poor in this aspect of his game.  He rounds off breaks and his inability to sell a route has led to interceptions galore.  If the same occurs in the league, it’s a safe bet that Thomas will not have a job for long.  Such a talent cannot be wasted, but he must clean up this facet swiftly
• Speed: His incapability on the deep routes is discouraging.  His size is such a distinctive advantage that if he had the faculty to track down deep balls, it would make him an unstoppable threat.  Unfortunately, his lack of speed and focus will render him as ineffective as Keyshawn Johnson
• Agility: Has significant limitations in his game; won’t be able to break the big play in the NFL.  His game-by-game consistency has many engaged to his skill level, but the lack of game breaking ability is a problem area in Thomas’ game

(All statistical information obtained from Wikipedia.com and ESPN.com)

Thomas displayed continued improvement throughout his career at Georgia Tech culminating in his senior year where he caught 46 balls for 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns.  For his career, he grabbed 120 balls for 2,339 yards and 14 touchdowns.

There is something to be said for a receiver who lives over the middle, but there is also something to be said for a receiver who clearly doesn’t have a second gear and a lack of focus that will be detrimental to the team and his teammates.

As previously stated, he resembles Keyshawn Johnson.  While Johnson had a productive NFL career, he didn’t have what it took to be selected with the #1 pick by the New York Jets in the 1996 NFL draft.

While Thomas has no chance of going in the 1^st round (projected 2^nd- 3^rd rounder), the similarities he has to Johnson are real and it wouldn’t be a huge revelation if Thomas became the unreliable target that Johnson became known for.

When the football is in Thomas’ hands, he has good balance and body control, as well as being such a force over the middle and the strength to run through defenders consistently.  With that said, it would be tempting to take him earlier in the draft, but let’s hope a team isn’t foolish enough to select him earlier than necessary solely based on the need for a big target that can lumber along for a few more yards after the initial hit.

The negative characteristics of his game outweigh the positives by a lot.  His career high for receptions is 46 and that is in an injury free season.  Compare this reception total to a player such as Mardy Gilyard (87 receptions in 2009), and you wonder how Thomas can be mentioned in the same breath as a stud such as Gilyard.

His route running is a significant issue in his game and needs to be corrected immediately for him to have an ounce of success at the next level.  The number of pro style routes that Georgia Tech receivers were asked to run was minimal as the playbook normally consisted of simple quick screens and go-routes.  Obviously the pro style offense is a very relevant part of his career now, so he better learn to sell a route and create separation or NFL defenses will chew him up.

Thomas will be a good pro as he should average between 40-50 catches per year, but don’t count on more than that.  As said, the upside is not there and if he can only manage 46 catches as a career high at Georgia Tech then don’t expect more than that in the pro game.  Thomas has received some hype, but the NFL is a “show-me-league” and Thomas will continue to show little besides the big holes in his game.